Snow-melting machine.



E. A. SMITH.

SNOW MELTING MACHINE,

APPLlcAnoN FILED SEPT. 25. |916.

Patented Apr. 8,1919.

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SNOW MELTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25. wie.

1 ,300,035. Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

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SNOW MELTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man SEPT. 2s. me.

Patented Apr. 8,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

EDWARD A. SMITH, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

sNowmEL'rrNe MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

Application flled September 2'5, 1916. Serial No. 121,935.

`To all whom-it may concern:

IBe it known that I, EDWARD A. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful SnowMelting Machine, of which the `following -is a specilication.

Myin-vention relates to portable incinerators `or snow melting machines.

An object of the invention is to provide a practical machine of the character stated, which im ay be selipropellled and is operative to collect the snow Yfrom the street as the machine advances. the snow being distributed into an oven where it is `melted as fast as it enters. Any unmelted snow is agitated by air and hot Water obtained from the melted snow. The machine is thus operative as it travels along the street to collect and melt the snow, the process being continuous.

The invention may consist of a self-pro polled vehicle n'comprising a large tank for any suitable `liquid fuel, such as oil or gasolene. As the machine advances, the snow may be collected by a movable scoop at the front of the machine and thrown into the melting oven or lfire box by suitable means such as a rapidly revolving wheel or pro pcler having blades by which the snow is thrown rearwardly and scattered or diused through the oven. Additional moans is provided for agitating the snowv comprising slotted pipes in the bottoms of the tire box through which air under pressure is su pliedfrom a blower or compressed air tan A series of atomizerszmay be provided within the oven for vaporizing the'fuel supplied from the tank and mixing it-withair supplied under pressure. The fuel thus intimately mixed with the air, burns with an intense heat which melts the snow as fast as it enters ythe :lire box. The fuel in the tank is maintained under a continuous pressure by suitable means, such as a motor-driven air com ressor communicating with the tank. T e re box `may lbe located beneath the forward pontion of the fuel tank and close to the ground where the snow will `enter it directly, without the necessity of being elevatedito any material extent. The fire box may have an linner lining of firepruoff maternal, and an outer casing, providying beneath the nre box a compartment in whieh the melted snow runs and from which it is discharged. Aso an space is provided between the fire box and the fuel tank. Air under pressure `may be supplied to the atomizers by a blower which may be run by an electric or other motor, the motor also serving to drive the propeller by which the snow is thrown into the fire box.

Various other features and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawin s, Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation o a machine constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a detail section of a connection for the vertical steering rod to the top of the steering knuckles to which the forward wheels are attached.

Fig 4 is a detail sectional elevation showing a portion of the fuel tank, supporting beams therefor, and a rod Vforming part of the connections' for operating the brakes.

Fig. 5 is a detail plan showing certain connections between the valve controlling lever and the valves and rheostat.

Fig. 6 is an elevational View of the atomizers and the air and fuel supply pipes and controlling valves therefor and spark plug.

Fig. V7 is a sectional view of an equalizing rod forming part of the steering apparatus.

Fig. 8 is a detail view showing valves controlling the suppl of fuel and air to the atomizers, and a eostat by which the motor which drives the blower or compressor is controlied.

Fig'. '9 is a sectional elevation showing a modified construction in which an endless conveyor is employed to carry the snow into the'ire box.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary View showing a portion of the conveyor and its track.

The machine may comprise a tank 11 to contain crude oil, kerosene, gasolene or any other suitable liquid fuel, said tank being mounted on a truck havin front and rear powcrdriven wheels 12 an 13. The truck may comprise channel' irons 14 extending along the sides of the tank, and cross-beams 15 beneath the tank. The fuel tank of large capacity and extends about the full h of thev machine.

e irebox or oven 16, in which the snow is melted, isi-located beneath the forward ortion `of the tank 11;, `being horizontally disposed with its floor orlbwer wall only a short distance above the level of the ground.

ysprin The front axle 17 instead of extending straight across the machine between the hubs of the wheels 12, is offset downwardly as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to extend transversely beneath the fire box 16 and through the water compartment said axle haymg upturned portions 17 at the ends of sald rtransverse portion. The portions 17 extend up` wardly into position to provide supports for the beams 14 of the truck by means of springs 14a. It will be seen that with this arrangement the axle 17 is carried outside of the fire box, providing ample room for the latter without subj eating the axle to the 1nternal heat of the re box, and moreover roviding a structure by which the floor o the fire box may be supported by the axle and by which the weight of the truck, and parts thereon, is directly supported by the axle.

The machine may be self-propelled by any suitable means 'as for example, small electric motors (not shown) moun on or in the front and rear wheels 12, 13. The rear end of the truck is supported on springs 18 mounted on the rear axle 19. The brake mechanism may comprise brake arms 20 and 21, (Fig. pivoted at 30, and adapted'to be expand into frictional engagement with the brake flange 3l by means of a cam or eccentric actuated by a rock arm 32. This is shown more particularly in Fig. 13, wherein the arm 32 is shown pivoted to the cross member 32a and provided with a forwardly extending cam 32h and a rearwardly extending cam 32. One of these engages with brake arm 2O and the other with brake arm 21. As arm 32 moves forward one moves upward and the other downward, thus ushing the shoe 20 upward and shoe 21 ownward. Any other suitable form. of brake might be employed. The brakes are contro led by a brake lever 33 near the drivers seat 34, said brake lever bei connected through a rod 35 to an arm 36 igs. 1 and 4) the arm 36 being secured to a rock shaft 37 extending across the machine beneath the tank 11. Rock arms 38 on the shaft 37 are connected through rods 39 to the rock arms 32. Cushioning springs 40 (Fig. 1) may be mounted on the rods 39.

The steerin mechanism may comprise a steering whee 41 connected through suitable means, such as a worm and ar shown in dotted lines, to a rock shaft 41 avin depending rock arms 42, each connected y a universal joint 43 to a stud 44 (F' 7) projecting from Va tubular rod 45. l.lach rod 45 has connected thereto, a rock arm 46 attached at its outer end 47 to a vertical rock shaft 48. Each ofthe rods 48 is supported Ain a vertical position by a bracket 48" and extends downward and is operatively connected to steering hub 49. Cushioning 45 are provided in the hollow rods 45. e steering Ywheel 41 when rotated is operative through the connections described to turn the front wheels for steering the machine.

The snow is collected by means of a scoop 5() inclined downwardly and forwardly from the front end of the iire box 16, and rovided at intervals alon its front edge wit fingers or feelers 51. 'hese feelers are normally suppoted a short distance above the surface of the street by skates or runners 54 and have their forward ends inclined upwardly so that if any obstruction on the street should be encountered the feelers 51 will be lifted upwardly and swing upwardly the forward ortion of the scoop 52 or platform 50, which) is hinged at 53 to permit such movement. Wheels 54 supported on a section 55 of the platform behind the hinged section 53, are normally held oli' the pavement, but may operate to support the platform 50 or lift it upwardly when said wheels encounter an elevation or obstruction in the road, thus moving the hood vertically. Located in front of the fire box and flaring outwardly therefrom is a hood 56 the lower side of which may consist of the scoop 50. The hood has at its front face a vertical screen 57 to thereby regulate depth of the intake opening 60 between said end 59 and the scoop 50 and throwing escaping heat down on the snow. The hood 56 1s adapted to be lifted when not in use by any suitable means such as a sprocket chain 61 attached to the hood and extendin over a sprocket wheel 62, rotatable by a hand-wheel 63 and held against backward rotation by a pawl and ratchet or other equivalent means. The hood may have slot-and-pin connections 61 with brackets at the front of the re box to limit the movement of the hood and hold it to the lire box.

The snow as it enters the hood through the opening 60 is thrown rearwardly by a rapidly revolving snow-wheel or propeller 64, comprising a series of blades 65 radiating from a hub 66. Fire-proof material 66a surrounds the driving shaft 67 on which the snow-wheel is mounted, said fire-proof material servin to protect the shaft 67 and prevent over eating thereof. The wheel 64 may be mounted on the hood and ad'ustable up and down therewith if desir The wheel 64 operates to throw the snow with considerable force well back into the fire box at the same time diifusin or spreading the snow so as to be broug t into immediate contact with the heated air and walls of the lire box, and thus quickly melted. The snow may be further agitated by blowing air and hot water through the re box by means of slotted pipes 67 in the bottom of the lire box. The air under ressure may be supplied from a blower 9% or a separate blower or compressed air tank communicating through pipes t7h with the pipes 67a. .The snow- The conveyer ma be driven b a belt or chain 126 exten 'ng rearwar ly to and driven by the motor 68 or other source of power.

Various modifications other than those herein mentioned lmay be resorted to within the spirit and scope of my invention, and Some --parts of the invention m'ay be used without others.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a snow meltin i machine, the combination with a 'truc of a fuel tank mounted thereon, a fire box, means for scooping up the snow, a snow wheel for throwing the snow into the iire box, a motor, means between the motor and said wheel for driving the latter, atomizers, means for conveying fuel from the tank to the atomizers, rand a blower operated by said motor to supply air under pressure to the atomizers, valves respectively controlling the supp-1y of fuel and thesupply of air to the atomizers, a lever connected to regulate said valves, a rheosta-t to control the speed of the motor, and connections from said lever to the rheostat, whereby the speed of the motor and the supply of fuel and compressed air are concomitantly controlled by the actuation of said lever.

2. In a snow melting machine, the combination with a truck, of propelling means therefor, 'a receptacle open at its forward end to receive the snow, a hood at said open end of the receptacle, a scoop by which the snow is collected yand over which it is conveyed through the hood to said receptacle, a shutter or screen for artially closing the front of said hood and deflecting the heated air, and means for adjusting said screen to regulate the wi-dth of the opening through which the snow enters said hood, said hood and scoop shiftable up and down, and wheels carried by said scoop normally out of contact with the ground and adapted to liftthe hood when an obstruction or elevar tion in the road is encountered.

3. In a snow melting machine, the oombination `of a `snow-melting fire box open only `at its forward end, means for delivering the snow into said fire box, fuel atomizers at the rear of said fire box positioned so asto direct a flame forwardly through said fire box, la multiplicity of air blast openings in the bottom of said fire box for dlrecting compressed air upwardly through the snow in a direction substantially at right angles to the direction of said flame, and means for supplying compressed air to said openings.

4. In a snow melting machine, the combination of a snow-melting fire box open only at its forward end, a rotatable Snow wheel at th-e open end of said fire box for throwing the incoming snow backward in said tire box, a hood and scoop extending forward from said fire box in advance of said snow wheel, a movable screen carried by said hood in advance of said snow wheel, means for suipplyn heat to said fire box, and means for con cting the snow water from said re box.

5. In a snow melting machine, the combina'tion of an elongated snow-melting fire box open at its forward end; a scoo hood and screen for controllin the collection and supply of snow to said re box; fuel atomizers at the rear of said re box for directing la flame forwardly in said fire box; a snowwheel in the forward end of said fire box having blades for engaging the Snow supplied by the hood, scoop and screen and 'throwing it rearwardly in said fire box; and fire-proofing material lining said fire box `and covering the shaft of said snow wheel.

6. In a snow melting machine, the combination of an elongated open ended lire box, means for delivering the snow to said lire box, a reproof lining in said fire box, openings through said lining and fire box for draining oil the snow water, a compartment beneath said fire box for collecting the water received from said fire box, a suitable outlet for said chamber, an air supply pipe extending beneath said ii're box and terminating in a number of outlets extending through said fire box and its lining and terminating close to said openings through which the water is drained from the fire box, means for heating said iire box by a fiame within said box, and means for supplying air under pressure to sai-d supply pipe, whereby snow and water are thrown upwardly into the dame.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 22nd day'of September A., D. 1916.

EDWARD A.. SMITH.

Witnesses:

ERNEST L. GALE, Jr., WALTER C. S'rnANo.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, ID. U. 

